Method and apparatus for selective hair dyeing



2,819,721 METHODAND APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVE HAIR DYEING Jan. 14, 1958 o L. ZAKON Filed June 14,1955

INVENTOR L. ZAKON.

OTHO

BY M United States Patent IVIETHOD AND APPARTUS FOR SELECTIVE HAIR DYEING Otho L. Zakon, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 14, 1955, Serial No. 515,457

12 Claims. (Cl. 132-7) The present invention relates to a method of and apparatus for use in dyeing and bleaching a lock of hair on a scalp.

A current fashion in womens hair styling is to have a lock of hair, usually at the forehead, of a color which is in contrast with the rest of the hair. Occasionally a gray streak in ones hair is the result of natural causes, but more frequently a gray streak or a lock of hair of a color in contrast with the rest of the hair is intentional and is accomplished by a bleaching or dyeing operation. In carrying out such dyeing or bleaching operation there is ever present the problem of confining the coloring to the desired tress or lock of hair and also of protecting the rest of the hair and the scalp from contact with the dyeing or bleaching solution. Various devices and methods have been heretofore used for carrying out the dyeing or bleaching operation but in the main said methods and devices have not proved satisfactory for one reason or another.

Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of and apparatus for bleaching or dyeing a lock of hair on the scalp.

A further object of the invention is to provide such method and apparatus as will effectively prevent spread ing of the dye or bleach into contact with the scalp or with the adjacent tresses.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method of dyeing or bleaching a lock of hair in an exceedin'gly easy manner with a simple apparatus, the use of which, by an operator, will not require prolonged instruction to gain the necessary proficiency.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention not specifically enumerated will become readily apparent from the detailed description which follows, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a side elevational view, with parts broken away, of the principal portion of the apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 shows a transverse section taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a longituidnal section, with parts broken away, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus in position for carrying out the first step in the method of the invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 show perspective views of the apparatus in carrying out subsequent steps of the method of the invention.

Fig. 7 shows a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 shows a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows a side elevational view, partly broken away, of a squeeze bottle used in carrying out the method of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the device or apparatus for use in coloring a lock of hair on a scalp embodying my Patented Jan. 14, 1958 present invention may be said to comprise as its principal component parts, a first tube 10 of relatively thin deformable liquid impervious material which is preferably transparent, a second rigid tube 11 which is freely movable within and withdrawable from the first tube and of a length to extend beyond the ends of the first tube, and a plunger 12 telescopically movable within said second tube and of a length greater than that of the second tube and extending beyond the ends of said second tube. The tube 11 is formed at its lower or free end with a laterally extending lip or jaw 13 and the plunger 12 is formed at its analogous end with a complemental, laterally extending lip or jaw 14 for engaging and supporting a tress or lock of hair. The plunger 12 at its end opposite to that provided with the jaw 14 is formed with an enlargement 16 and is encircled by a helical spring 17, one end of which bears against the enlargement 16 and the other end of which encircles the upper end of the tube 11 and bears against a transverse finger-engage able bar 18 secured to the tube 11 in proximity to its corresponding end to facilitate moving the plunger against the tension of the spring when it is desired to separate the jaws 13 and 14. For limiting the inward movement of the plunger 12 and for constraining it against rotation in relation with the tube 11, said plunger is formed with an elongate transverse flat-based groove 19 therein and the tube 11 is formed with a lateral bentin lip 20 extending into the groove 19. The transverse finger-engageable bar 18 also serves as an abutment for one end of the flexible tube 10 when positioned over the tube 11.

The device or apparatus also includes a novel form of clamp, herein shown as consisting of a fiat base member 21, a movable jaw 22 and an elastic binder sleeve 23. The top surface of the base of the clamp 21 is covered by a soft rubber pad 24 extending from one end to about the middle of the base. The jaw 22 for the greater portion of its length is of substantially triangular shape in transverse cross-section, as shown at 25, with the apex 26 of the triangle directed downwardly for engagement with the rubber pad. For the remainder of its length the jaw 22 is formed with an upward, angularly-extending portion 27, the lowermost part of which 28 projects below the apex 26 by an amount equal to substantially the thickness of the pad 24 and constitutes a fulcrum about which the jaw may be pivoted to open the clamp, as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 7. To hold the clamp members together and apply clamping force thereto, the elastic sleeve 23 engages around both the base and the jaw adjacent the fulcrum 28.

To carry out a dyeing or bleaching operation upon a lock of hair the following procedure is followed: The plunger 12 is depressed against the force of the spring 17 by engaging the transverse member 18 with the fingers and pressing against the enlargement'16 with the palm of the hands, whereupon the lips 13 and 14 are separated, as shown in Fig. 4. With the plunger in said position, a tress or look of hair 15 is engaged approximately mid-way along its length and preferably over the lip 14 on the plunger 12. Upon releasing the pressure upon the end of the plunger, the spring 17 will draw the lip 14 carrying the tress 15 into clamping engagement with the lip 13. The deformable tube 10 will then be slid down over the folded tress or lock of hair until the end of the'tube is brought into substantial engagement with the scalp, as shown in Fig. 5. The flexible tube, while thus held; is then clamped at its scalp-engaging end with the clamp by first applying pressure to the angular portion 27 against the tension of the elastic sleeve 23 to open the clamp, whereupon the tube 10, together with the contained lock 7 of hair, is engaged between the baseand the jaw of the .3; clamp and the manual pressure thereon released. By virtue of the elastic tension of the sleeve 23, the clamp will deform the end of the tube to provide a liquid-tight seal thereat. The rubber padwill provide aeushion for the clamping pressure so that no damagenvillresult; to, the tube or the hair therein. The tubell and plunger 12 are then Withdrawn from the plastic tube, care beingexercised to retain all of the lock of hair withinthe tube, Now holding the tube containing the hair; in. a substantially upright position, it is ready to. receive the bleach or dye solution.

In view of the relatively small diameter of the. deform-. able tube and the fact that it is substantially filled with the lock of hair, special means are resorted tofor charging or injecting the coloring. solution into. the tube. The means I prefer toemploy'is a plastic bottle 2? provided with a removable cap 30 having fitted therein an outwardly extending nozzle or tube 31 of a length at least equal to the length of the deformable tube 10. The plastic bottle is provided with a relief valve 32 toinsure equalization of pressure should, for. any reason the nozzle '31 become clogged and excessive pressure be built up in the bottle during non-use of the bleach solution. The operator will then grasp the bottle, preferably maintaining the thumb upon the valve 32, and will insert the nozzle 31 into the hair-containing tube 10 as far as possible and the bottle is then squeezed to charge the treating solution into the hair-containing tube. The advantage of a long, needlelike filling nozzle will be appreciated as it will prevent the formation of air pockets within the hair-containing tube. When a suflicient quantity of treating solution has been charged into the tube It) to completely cover the hair contained therein, the charging nozzle is removed and the tube may be manipulated by the fingers of the operator to cause movement of the liquid therein into intimate contact with the hair to insure proper reactionbetween the liquid and the hair. After the necessary time has elapsed for insuring the coloring operation, the customers head is placed over a rinse board, the clamp and plastic tube are removed from the lock of hair and the dye or bleach is rinsed off in the usual manner.

If the lock or tress of hair which can be accommodated within a single tube 10 is less than the amount of hair in a lock which is to be treated, a number of these devices can be applied so as to simultaneously treat the entire lock of hair. Instead of utilizing my invention to dye or color a lock of hair, the method and apparatus may be used to keep one tress or lock-of hair out of. contact with the treating solution, while dyeing or bleaching the balance of the hair on the scalp.

The invention, it is to be understood, is subject to modification in either the method or procedure and the specific apparatus disclosed, or both, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. The method of providing a contrasting color between a lock of hair and the balance of the hair on a scalp which comprises drawing such lock of hair into a tube of deformable liquid-impervious material, moving said tube down over said lock of hair into substantial engagement with the scalp, clamping the scalp-engaging end of the tube to provide a liquid-tight seal thereat and applying a hair coloring solution to that portion of the hair which is to be treated to completely envelop the lock of hair within the tube.

2. The method of coloring a lock of hair on a scalp which comprises drawing such lock of hair into a tube of deformable liquid-impervious material, moving said tube down over said lock of hair into substantial engagement with the scalp, clamping the scalp-engaging end of the tube to provide a liquid-tight seal thereat and charging. a hair coloring solutioninto. thetube tocompletely envelop the lock of hair within the tube.

The method or 1 i 1 .alock.. hair. oaascalp which comprises drawing such lock of hair into a tube of deformable liquid-impervious material, moving said tube down over said lock of hair into substantial engagement with the scalp, clamping the scalp-engaging end of the tube to provide a liquid-tight seal thereat, charging a hair coloring solution. into the tube to completely envelop thelock of hair within the tube and manipulating the wall portion of the tube containing the lock of hair and the coloring solution to promote intimate contact between the hair and the solution.

4. The method of coloring a lock of hair on a scalp which comprises gripping such lock of hair approximately midway its length, moving a tubeof deformable liquidimpervious material down over said gripped lock of hair into substantial engagement with the scalp, clamping the scalp-engaging end of the tube to provide a liquid-tight seal thcreat and charging. .a pair coloring solution .into the tube to completely. envelopgthelockof hair..withi-n the tube.

5. A device for useincoloring a-lock ofahair on a scalp, comprising a tube of deformable,-liquidrimpervious material, an elongate member extending throughand withdrawable from said tube,.said member having means at one end thereof for. clamping and releasing a lock .of hair and means at the oppositeend. of. said member-for operating said first named means, the .tubebeing movable down over the hair .clampingend of the .elongatemember into substantial engagementwith the scalp, and :means for .clamping the scalp-engagingend of the .tubetoprm vide a liquid-tight seal thereat.

6. A device for usein coloring alock of hair. on .a scalp, comprising a tubeof deformable liquideimpervious material, a second tube movable withinthe first tube and having an elongate member extending therethrough formed with means for engaging a lockzof hair, saidtube of deformable material being slidable over said second tube into substantial engagement with ,thescalpwhile a lock of hair is engaged by the elongate .member, andsaid second tube, together with the. elongate, member,,- being then withdrawable from the deformable tube.

7. A device for use in .coloring a lock'of hair ot er scalp, comprising a first tube of .deformableliquid-impervious material, a second tube. movable; within .and withdrawable from the first tube, a plungerv movahlein said second tube and having means .at one. endpfor-aengaging a lock of hair, said firsttube. beingmovablei down over the second tube andan engaged lockzofihairsinto substantial engagement. with thescalp, after. which the second tube and plunger may be withdrawn. from.the first tube, leaving the lock of hair wholly withimthefirst tube.

8. A device according to claim 7, including meansfor clamping the scalp-engaging end of thefirst tube .to;,provide a liquid-tight seal thereat.

9. A device according to claim 7, wherein thesecond tube and the plunger are formed with cooperating-hairengaging jaws, and spring means normally. bias the hair: engaging jaws toward each other.

10. A device according to claim 9, whereinhthehain engaging jaws areat the corresponding freesends .of'the second. tube and the plunger.v

11. A device according to claimB, wherein. thctsecond tube has a transverse finger-engageablearnemberto facilitate moving the plunger relatively: to the second .tube against the force of the spring means to separategthdhain engaging jaws.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein there are cooperating parts on the second tube and. onstheplu-nger for limiting the extent of separation of the jaws...

References Cited in the file-of this :patent UNIIEDSTA ES PATENT 78,98

UNITED STATES PATENT oancr;

, CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 2,819,721 January 14, 1958 Otho L. Zakon n the printed specification It is hereby certified that error appears i and that the said Letters of the above numbered patent requiring correction Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 4, line 18, for !pair coloring" read hair coloring Signed and sealed this 23rd day of June 1959.

\(SEAL) At'fiest:

A ROBERT c. WATSON Attesting; Officer Commissioner of Patents 

